In three races — for the 2nd District congressional seat, the District 2 state Senate seat, and the District 10 state Assembly — Democrats occupy the catbird seat and enjoy huge leads in fundraising over their Republican opponents.

During the first six months of 2014, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, collected $712,761 in contributions and ended the filing period with more than $333,000 in cash on hand, according to the Federal Elections Commission.

Huffman's Republican opponent, Dale Mensing, a supermarket cashier living in Garberville, did not file a campaign finance report. Federal candidates who do not raise or spend more than $5,000 are not required to file.

The campaign finance reports on the two state races covered May 18 through June 30 of this year.

District 10 Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, reported contributions of $97,262 and ended the filing period with $218,389 in cash. His Republican opponent, Gregory Allen of Novato, a high-tech recruiter, collected $5,074 in contributions during the reporting period and ended June with $4,929 in cash. Since the beginning of the year, Levine has spent more than $480,000.

Sonoma County Supervisor Mike McGuire, the Democratic candidate for the District 2 state Senate seat took in $65,910 in contributions from May 18 to June 30 and ended the filing period with $262,804 in cash. McGuire has spent more than $401,000 since the beginning of 2014.

McGuire's Republican challenger, Lawrence Wiesner of Santa Rosa, has not filed an electronic campaign finance report and is not required to do so if he collects less than $25,000 in contributions.

Reached at his office on Friday said, Wiesner said he raised a "small amount" during the filing period.

"It was less than $5,000," Wiesner said. He said he ended the period with between $1,000 and $2,000 in cash.

Brian Sobel, a Petaluma-based political analyst, said the Democrats in all three races have advantages that make their races "practically predetermined."

Huffman and Levine are incumbents, and a large majority of the voters in all three districts are registered Democrats.

Regarding the District 10 Assembly race, Sobel said, "Those factors all combined mean that Levine's challenger is hopefully there to debate the issues; but he has no hope of winning. Levine is going to coast to victory."

Turning to the District 2 state Senate, Sobel said, "Once McGuire had fairly well cleared the field of any opponents who might have had some fundraising ability, it was all over."

Tom Montgomery, vice-chairman of the Marin Republican Party, said he isn't surprised that some people are counting these three Republican candidates out before a single vote has been cast.

"Based on the registration advantage that the Democrats have, it's understandable," Montgomery said. "But I wouldn't call it discouraging. We've got three candidates who are willing to run and represent the party. They beat out their opponents in the primaries. I'm one of those people who never count out the underdog, because a lot can happen between now and November 3."

The Democratic candidates' commanding leads have given them the confidence to use some of their campaign cash to benefit others. Huffman has transferred $125,000 of his contributions to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Huffman also transferred smaller amounts to some local candidates: $500 to San Anselmo City Councilman Tom McInerney, $500 to Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold and $250 to Marin Supervisor Katie Rice.

Levine has transferred more than $35,000 to the Democratic State Central Committee of California, despite the fact that the state Democratic party spent heavily in an attempt to elect his Democratic opponent, Michael Allen, in 2012.

"It doesn't surprise me in the least," Sobel said. "There is an expectation that if you're in a safe race that you're going to give money to the party and help some others in need. It buys a lot of chits and good will."